Inspiration Of The Day: JJ Smith On Striving To Be The Best

JJ Smith, weight-loss expert, life coach and inspirational speaker knows a thing or two about raising the bar and holding yourself to a higher standard. In the interview above, she wowed us with her story of how at a young age her father instilled in her pride about being African American. She says that she learned being Black can be a privilege and that appreciation for one’s self can help determine success later in life.

“To me, it’s the expectation to be the best,” Smith said in explaining her own definition of what it means to be an African American. “[I]t’s the culture. We’re very colorful, we’re very haughty, we’re very prideful. And I think for me, that level of expectation is very high.”

Smith mused about how her father taught her not to compare herself to her classmates. Those encouraging words have grounded Smith’s appreciation for her community. What’s more, they gave her strong self-esteem, resulting in her immense prosperity as the grown woman she is today.